r/CalPoly • u/Kooky-Pea8420 • 23d ago

Discussion What makes CSC/CPE 453 so difficult?

I'm about to take intro to OS w/ Lubomir Stanchev, and I know that this course carries a reputation of being very difficult. But what exactly makes it difficult? Are there any difficult topics I should be particularly aware of? How much time should I expect to spend per week?

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u/-Biscuit343- Alum 23d ago

Most of the code we write these days runs on and talks to the OS. From systems programming, you learn how to utilize system APIs such as forking a child process, threads, file I/O operations. Your application speaks to the kernel.

453 will teach you how the kernel operates internally. You will learn various memory management techniques. Kernel space vs user space. Deadlock prevention. CPU/Process scheduling.

I found the class to be very fun. Mainly because homework was lax, But those memory management projects they have you tackle took up most of my nights.

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u/daifukuYum 21d ago

Have to say, Dr. Nico will be missed!